Camila Heredia, Aine Workentin, Gillian Parker, Navindra Persaud
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Medicines affect the environment throughout their lifecycle, from production and distribution to use and disposal. They contribute to the pollution of air, water, and soil, impacting ecosystems and human health. Recognizing these risks, regulatory bodies and organizations have highlighted pharmaceutical pollution as a global concern, emphasizing the need for environmental risk assessments and sustainable practices.
Methods: This study reviewed the essential medicines lists (EMLs) from 158 countries and examined the available ecotoxicological data. Medicines with high bioaccumulation, persistence, and toxicity were identified and cross-referenced with their inclusion in EMLs. Additionally, we analyzed the presence of alternative medicines with similar therapeutic effects but potentially lower environmental risks.
Results: Five medicines-ciprofloxacin, ethinylestradiol, levonorgestrel, ibuprofen, and sertraline-were selected as illustrative examples due to their high environmental persistence and toxicity. All were listed in the 2023 WHO model list, with ciprofloxacin appearing in 94.3% of national EMLs.
Conclusions: This study underscores the limited availability of ecotoxicological data, which hinders environmental risk assessment for medicines. EMLs could serve as a tool to enhance the awareness and data mobilization of pharmaceutical pollution. Incorporating environmental criteria into EMLs could support more sustainable medicine selection and regulatory practices.
期刊介绍：
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) (ISSN 1660-4601) is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes original articles, critical reviews, research notes, and short communications in the interdisciplinary area of environmental health sciences and public health. It links several scientific disciplines including biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, computer science, ecology, engineering, epidemiology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, oncology, pathology, pharmacology, and toxicology, in an integrated fashion, to address critical issues related to environmental quality and public health. Therefore, IJERPH focuses on the publication of scientific and technical information on the impacts of natural phenomena and anthropogenic factors on the quality of our environment, the interrelationships between environmental health and the quality of life, as well as the socio-cultural, political, economic, and legal considerations related to environmental stewardship and public health.
The 2018 IJERPH Outstanding Reviewer Award has been launched! This award acknowledge those who have generously dedicated their time to review manuscripts submitted to IJERPH. See full details at http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph/awards.
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